Care Packages Galore!!!!

First
from my home town the blessed Victoria took my blog ravings to heart and sent me Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Thank you Victoria, I'll be sure to cook something out of it the next time you visit.


Second
From the un-spellable province (Saskatchewan, thank you google) the darling Michele has loaded me with cookbooks, some light reading, and a travel yoga kit.

Thank you Michele, the cookbooks look great, the yoga to go is in my bag, and don't you just love The Trouble with Magic? I know Madelyn Alt has written more but I keep forgetting to check her other works out. As I already own a copy I'll be passing this one onto poor Elizabeth, winner of my give a way who's Pizza Cutter Prize is still on my desk (sorry! but hey, you're getting a book out of it).

Vegetarian Cooking Without (gluten, sugar, yeast, & dairy) looks really interesting, I think I'll see if I can get my hands on a copy of (non Vegetarian) Cooking Without and start there. Maybe I'll actually be able to adhered to the restrictions of my dairy allergy....

From my mother-in-law and sister-in-law who were traveling in Montana over my birthday....
some beautiful earrings from the Montana Silversmiths.

Thank you, both of you; I love them! (the picture doesn't do them justis by a long shot, but I wasn't about to take yet another one).

Thank you everyone, it's nice to know that we're missed.

Paul would like to know why it is that I get all of the care packages? : (

Hubby Friday XV

be sure to check out KatyLin's blog The Great Adventure for more information on My Husband Rocks Fridays.

My husband rocks for compromising.

I have been trying to replace, at least in partial if not in whole, our white carbohydrate intake with more complex carbohydrates. Paul is a bigger advocate for whole wheat bread than I am, but he's not a fan of whole wheat pancakes, bagels, cookies, or pasta (not to mention brown rice).

Over the two years that I have been buying more complex carbohydrates we have come to some understandings.

Pancakes - unless they are meant as a treat for me (as I actually like whole wheat pancakes - and with bananas and walnuts I love them) 100 % white flour. We only have them a few times a year and most of the time while meant as a treat, I'm not the person the treat is intended for, so this makes sense as it fails to be a treat if I'm force feeding.

Bagels - 1/2 "white" whole wheat flour to 1/2 white flour.

Cookies - everyday cookies 100% "white" whole wheat flour (I'm working on creating the perfect everyday cookie, with "white" whole wheat flour, 70% dark chocolate, cinnamon, oatmeal, flax seed, 1/2 apple sauce to butter, etc... when I put together the perfect base recipe I'll share).

Pasta: I buy multi gran, which Paul likes - while he buys white which I'll cook when we're out of multi grain.

So Paul already rocks for meeting me that far (I have met a fair amount of women who would have to put up with a lot of complaining if they started baking with whole wheat flour; while Paul isn't above the occasional gripe, he also believes that if you really can't stand it then get up can cook your own food - in fact he does cook, just not as much as I do) but this week he took it up a notch.

I had mentioned that we needed to buy some multi grain pasta; this meant going to Safeway, when we were already going to Fry's and Costco. While as Costco Paul saw the whole wheat spaghetti (the same packaging as the white spaghetti that he normally buys) and said "just buy the whole wheat and mix it with the white".

MELT!!!

Then he agreed that next paycheck we could buy some brown rice to mix with the white rice, but only if we started with a 1/4 to 3/4 ratio, and try frying it in olive oil and garlic like my uncle Rollie does.

HEART!!!

Then, if that weren't enough, when I was making chicken soup I found that we were actually out of white pasta. Without flinching Paul said "all whole wheat should be fine in chicken soup".

SWOON!!!

My husband rocks for acknowledging that we really should try to replace our white carbohydrates with more complex carbohydrates (though he did have a good laugh over the counter productivity when he placed the box of ramen next to the whole wheat spaghetti); he rocks for loving whole wheat bread when I'm the one who wants white, and for not complaining when the balance of whole wheat and white doesn't work out and he just guts whole wheat.

Is it weird that I fell in love all over again because my man put a bag of whole wheat spaghetti in our grocery cart? - What does it matter, I'm loving the feeling.

Remembering to observe November 11

Remembrance Day, Memorial Day - the point is the same; remember those who have served and died to serve your country, your freedom, your way of life.

It seems to me that in Vancouver B.C. (six years ago anyway) the world stopped on November 11th. You heard in Flanders Fields at least three times, there was always some event to go to, and everyone wore a plastic poppy (most for weeks before). People observed the day, taking time to offer reflection and honor.

In Seattle, and now in Phoenix I'm just astounded by the lack of observance. The local events were small and under advertised, most businesses were still open, most I interacted with had forgotten that the day was supposed to be special, and not a poppy in sight...

That is expect for mine.


Katie's Easy Crocheted Remembrance Poppy

Ch 5 st and join and a circle
Sc 8 sts in the circle
(sc, ch1, sk next stich, ch1) four times (= four loops)
in each loop (sc, hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc, sc)
weave in ends.

(not tested, I just did it - tell me if this is wrong and I'll fix it)

Did you take a moment to remember the verterains and fallen this November 11th?

Hubby Fridays XIIIV

be sure to check out KatyLin's blog The Great Adventure for more information on My Husband Rocks Fridays.

My husband rocks for marring me even though he knew very well that I am broken.

While my health in general is much better here in Arizona, I am still me - and while I'm try not to make a big deal out of the fact that I get injured easily (it's not a healthy mind set) that doesn't change the fact that I get injured easily.

Mid October I posted about how I fell and hyper extended my ankle, landing myself on crutches for while. Well... what then was not posted, was the shortly followed E.R. visit due to an extreme calf spasm. The spasm lasted for 37 hours strait, despite half a bottle of Valium, and I then processed to have smaller spasms and extreme pain in my calf for another week and a half. I couldn't lift my leg to crutch, so I had to start walking again early. My leg was, and still is only happy if up and on an ice pack.

My leg is still having issues, though it's definitely healing as long as I stay off of it most of the time. Now that the pain has decreased my ankle is protesting, but over all I'm getting better. Well of course I'm getting better all I'm doing at home is sitting on the couch watching cracker and making baby garments for the new members of my extended family.

My husband rocks for looking at me for one second and then telling our guest that he was going to need to take me to the E.R. because he knows I have a high pain tolerance.
My husband rocks for not making me feel guilty for being on the couch, or getting angry at the pile of books and yarn that currently circle it.
My husband rocks for getting me a drink or some food when I ask.
My husband rocks for trying to keep up with the dishes by himself.
By far the most important and spectacular, is that my husband rocks for knowing beforehand that this was part of the package.

Love you Paul!

Book Review: The Circle Trilogy: Valley of Silence

Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Vampire warfare calls upon an medieval Irish sorcerer to gather a circle beyond worlds and time, the Valley of Silence is were the battles takes place.

With the last preparations at hand the local women having been taught to defend themselves if and when necessary decide to follow the lead of these strong strange women from the future who trained them, and demand to march with the men to war. Thousand of pieces to the preparations all having to be over seen at some level by one of the circle, can she not take just a little something for herself?

The third romance of the circle is one both involved pushed away, knowing only sorrow could ultimately come from it; but just how long can we hurry up and wait to fight damnation as we fight our hearts, beating or otherwise, at the same time?

The third book in the circle trilogy is a good balance of fantasy, romance, and suspense. The ultimate battle wasn't anticlimactic, but a little short and lacks some of the suspense better placed throughout the trilogy. The Romance story line bringing both laughter and tears making this a top notch romance novel, while maintaining the fantasy of the over arching story line.

I'll admit, I was hesitant to read Nora Roberts. Television advertisement for literature I'm sure will one day be the norm, but currently I find the practice off putting; however, once I picked up the books I couldn't put them down. They're not the best books ever, but the romance novel enthusiast in me devoured them with delight (the type of reading that while you're engrossed in the moment, you find yourself unlikely to ever pick up the book for a second read). I turned to this series 'cause I needed a break from heavy reading, and I'll keep Nora Roberts in mind the next time I find myself needing such a break.


View all my reviews >>

Book Review: The Circle Trilogy: Dance of the Gods

Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Vampire warfare calls upon an medieval Irish sorcerer to gather a circle beyond worlds and time, Dance of the Gods brings the circle to the place of battle, to strengthen their ties that they may call others to war.

Now in an alternate world tied to medieval Ireland the unlikely six prepare in a castle of fairytale proportions, calling the people of the land to prepare for the battle of vampires charging their door step. Another romance blooms within the circle, this one less charged but just as needed; a modern woman convinced her life as a slayer should keep her in solitude beings to break under the tireless devotions of medieval selfless royalty. Can she open herself to love again, this time a love across worlds?

While still clearly a romance novel, this has more fantasy, much to the medieval setting complete with castles, magic swords, and dragons.

View all my reviews >>

Book Review: The Circle Trilogy: Morrigan's Cross

Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Vampire warfare calls upon an medieval Irish sorcerer to gather a circle beyond worlds and time, Morrigan's Cross is the gathering.

Under the instruction of the goddess Morrigan six gather to train, learn, and to unite in the forest of modern Ireland. A mystical romance quickly accepted drives the story, will they both lives and if so how will they live together coming from different worlds?

This book is more romance than fantasy, however the series is a good balance of both.

View all my reviews >>

Tea & Sugar Brain Storm

"Katharyn, have you eve thought about being a writer? You're writing is very readable." - mum

People keep trying to talk me into being a writer, and not just my mother (Jeff, Hillary, Michele, Dr. Archer, Professor Tanumbaum...) . It's an idea I have toyed with, but not very seriously. What would I write? Where should I start? I would say, how does a dyslexic secondary school drop out with only some college become a writer, but that would only back determination behind the whim to do so.

While thinking over brainstorming and the few measly little story lines I have in my head (mostly fan fiction) I remembered why I start this blog. Milk & Sugar? was a speech a I wrote for an Analytical Writing Class, a writing exercise based off of the NPR This I believe speeches. A project that while finished enough for a 4.0, was never actually finished in it's entirety.

I had intended to write the accompanying reflections and inspiration essay, and submit my speech to NPR, only I never did that part. I found that the NPR character limitation was shorter than my professors minimum character requirement, and that I grown too attached to my speech to shorten it. A friend with her brilliant mind, deep sister soul and, and Teaching degree shortened it for me. I know don't know how, but Michele managed to shorten the speech without touching the heart of it.

So I went to write the accompanying essay, and to my infuriation found that the essay had a significantly higher character maximum allowance than the speech. The pain of having to cut my speech while being granted the space to babble about it shut my brain to the project. I always meant to go back and write the essay, but in three years that hasn't happened.

After my mother added her own inquires to the list of people telling me to write something I looked back into the NPR speeches; I do know that you start but just writing whatever as long as you're writing, and it seems like a good warm up project. But things have changed in the last three years. NPR raised it's minimum character allowances for the speech to match the allowance on the essay granting me enough space for the original speech, while I moved to Arizona and no longer serve tea the way I did.

I no longer run for the kettle whenever someone walks through the door. I do serve tea during gaming sometimes, but it's not standard... I do have tea every day, at work; we have a Tea @ Two club (post to follow) so my teapots live there during the week in a locked cabinet, to be shared with my co-workers as an afternoon break. My general feeling around tea has not changed, but my tea practises certainly have.

What was my inspiration? An assignment and an email from Victoria which said "I miss your tea". How do I write an explanation of my inspiration from three years back?

Perhaps I don't. Perhaps I write what's different, and what's the same; perhaps I should just reaffirm the point.

Loveing Arizona, but I'm definetly from the NorthWest!

Apparently, I can't walk, talk and carry Starbucks at the same time (missed that we were stepping off a curb). As I hyper extended my ankle and almost (enough to bruise) dislocated my knee I proved myself to truly be of the NorthWest. My steamed soy milk with pumpkin spice merely sprayed slightly through the sip hole as if sneezing, and was otherwise left undamaged and ready to console my wounded pride.

I can actually hear my mother in my head "Katharyn, Katharyn, Katharyn.... (what are we going to do with you)".

Meh, worse things have happened.

Hubby Fridays XIIV

be sure to check out KatyLin's blog The Great Adventure for more information on My Husband Rocks Fridays.

My husband rocks for not caring for about online networking.

That's right, you're reading a blog, a means of online networking, about how someones spouse disliked online networking.

Paul has never had an open book policy, and what are blogs but public (in my case censored) diaries. He doesn't believe in the lack of interaction, the void of personal touch in mass communication ("if you care enough about a person to share this information, why not email them and cc anyone else who's involved?"), and Paul cares not to take the time to sift through prolific literary diarrhea for a diamond in the ruff (for every awesome blog, there are nine that are only interesting if you know the person- trust your instincts, you know it to be true).

He's not on facebook or myspace, he plays real video games, he uses web chat, he sends emails, he makes phone calls.

What's so awesome about this? That he still doesn't use facebook, myspace, twitter, blogger etc... it's hard to do that now a days.

My husband rocks for sticking with his convictions, while not giving his open book wife too much hassle for her very different point of view.

"Facebook is the opium of the masses" - Paul

(if, without using a search engine) you can tell us who Paul is quoting (with a small alteration), some of his faith may be restored in humanity.
Of course if you're reading this you're one of our friends so you're might just be well read enough... and if he thinks of you as well read he won't be impressed.... worth a try though.

Tea Gifts, not just herbs

Thank you crafty Carrie for the Tea Bag Wallet!

Now I can carry my favorite herbal tea and a little something to help with the endometriosis everywhere.

Simple, easy, and involving tea. I'm going to have to make some of these....

Blog Suggestion: BRA Chix Bulletin

I invite you to read my friend Michelle's Blog, BRA Chix Bulletin
Her resent post Rambo = Superman? is well worth reflection. I know I have been in simular situations where a mundane task leads to a revelating (yes I know that's not a word but I'm making it one, so there) conversation.

And she posted a pumpkin coconut bread, combining my two favroite things in the world - so hello, good blog (if inconsistent posting, but I can't throw a stone there)!

Birthday Greenery

hum... still peach.... maybe it'll be green when I turn 27?

As a house warming/birth gift from Bill we were given two goldfish plants
Harry (clearly the male plant)

& Sally

(so named by Bill - good choice since I tend to name gifted plants after their givers so they would have ended up being Willie and Willetta)

Purchased with a gift certificate from Leigh....

Tedward!
(so named after Edward from the Anita Blake books, since he's Ted for Theodor in his South-West home, I figured this sickly plant could use a strong role model.) This Aloe Vera Plant resides in the pot of the dearly departed John the Spider plant (we did everything we could, but as much as I am my father's daughter my father I am not, and being away from dad's care was just too much to ask). Tedward was rather sickly looking (over watered I think) when we picked him up, but that means he was super sale ($1.47)! We're hoping Tedward will find our front yard more inhabitable than the Walmart Garden Center.

As Walmarts doesn't carry herb plants in September, even in Arizona were the growing season starts in October, we spent the rest of the gift card on pots, dirt, and seed.
With one week behind us we have...

budding Tarragon (two no shows from this pot so far)

some shy Lavender

budding Sweet Basil

budding Genovese Basil

Oregano baby buds

shy Rosemary

Thyme baby buds (one no show)

and just today, the first singular baby bud of Sage

Well at least someone enjoys the greenhouse that is my kitchen.

Thank you Bill & Leigh for helping me start the indoor garden!!! A wonderful Birthday gift to be sure!

Now, if I can only keep them all alive unlike poor John and Jackie (who was thriving up until the day she died... not sure what happened there...), do you think they'd be fooled by green nail polish?

Fire Fairy

So Lizzie, I got my own visit from the fire fairy.

Our Kitchen table is currently covered in plants, while we search for five free minutes to place a 2x4 across the kitchen window so we can install the window baskets. This means that my cutting board has been spending a lot of time on the stove lately....

turned on the wrong burner... walked away to go show Victoria something (after all, it was the kettle I though I had put on, no need to stay in the kitchen for the kettle). Umm, toxic plastic fumes, yummy.

Douh!

Sorry, the housewarming/birthday party photos didn't really happen....

I could have taken pictures of our housewarming/my early birthday party....

But that would have meant putting Danica down, or heaven forbid giving her back to her parents.
Holding a newborn for more or less four hours, great party in my book!

(Thank you Leigh for changing the batteries in my camera and taking the only photo we have from the party).

Rest in Peace Mary Travers

And When I Die...

Something to think over on September Eleventh

Gordon Sinclair
Radio Station CFBR 1010
2 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"LET'S BE PERSONAL"
Broadcast June 5, 1973
CFRB, Toronto, Ontario
Topic: "The Americans"

The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Misssissippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes.

Come on... let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 107? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or women on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws .. are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here.

When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the Israel bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke.

This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over… has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped.

First True Gardener Moment.

A frustrating week, an extremely frustrating day - none of the frustration due to any one thing. Driving home with escaped tears at the exhaustion of life. Driving home to what? Hosing down the back yard in preparation for grass seed....

Dusk's alluring shadowed light; warm engrossing sweet scented breeze; dry palm leaves echoing like breaking waves; silence in my head for the first time in days....

The dusty mix of earth and clay holds within it small bits of dry grass, those bits look dead but I know if I just stand there with the hose tomorrow there'll be a little bit a green out of the barren wasteland. Not a wasteland, just a patch of life that's getting washed clean, not clean slated, just bathed so it can work itself over.

Tomorrow will be fine, and so too the days after.

Movie Review: Julie & Jula

Title: "Julie & Julia"
Tea Cups: 5 of 5



Julie is a woman going through one of life ruts, who in an attempt to find some emotional clarity starts a blog in which she documents cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year (that's over 500 recipes in 365 days).

Julia is of course Julia Child, but what we see of her is not the house hold legend we all know, rather a woman struggling with the limitations of her own life, searching for fulfillment.

The question you have to ask you self before seeing this movie, is do you actually enjoy cooking? Or is cooking just something you do because eating is a necessity of life, therefore it might as well taste okay?

For myself and fellow kitchen art enthusiasts "Julie & Julia" was a brilliant film; emotional without being overwhelming, witty, and historically eye opening.

For those that don't really love to cook, even if they think they enjoy cooking as much as others, the film is a bit of a bore (you can tell exactly where these people are sitting in the theater as their laughter is much lighter and less frequent.)

Meryl Streep's performance was a masterpiece (not that I have EVER been unhappy with any her performances), she truly became Julia Child, her voice along was brilliant! I'm thrilled to see Amy Adams in a serious role, she pulled it off beautifully!

As a blogger, who's been spending far too much time playing facebook's farmville rather than blogging, the movie brought me here. It reminded me of why I blog: an escape from reality by reflecting upon reality. When you write, you take control, you get to own just a little piece of the situation.

Though I'm hoping for pressure cooker for Christmas, a DVD copy of "Julie & Julie" and a copy of The Art of Mastering French Cooking would work too.

Bon Appetit!

P.S. I highly suspect that Julia was misinformed, and had not looked into things herself. I can not believe that she would think such had she actually done her own research.

Hubby Fridays XIV

be sure to check out KatyLin's blog The Great Adventure for more information on My Husband Rocks Fridays.

My husband rocks for doing things because he knows those things are important to me, even when those things don't directly effect us.

If you have been following my blog at all you probably know that I'm not the healthiest person on the planet (those of a classic nature would say I have a week constitution). It wouldn't surprise me if at some point I end up needing a blood transfusion for one reason or another, I just have that type of medical history. So, a few years ago I figured I should start donating to build up my clotting karma.

Well, that's one way to find out that you have menstrual based anemia... which explains a lot actually. So, while helping me recover from being boarder line anemic before donating a pint of blood, my doctor had me black listed.

"Why were you, with your history, donating blood?"
"...Well... 'cause I'm probably going to need it later..."
"Ah. Well you know that part of the pre-donation questioner, 'have you ever been told by a health care professional you shouldn't donate blood?' 'Cause you shoudln't donate blood! Volunteer to serve the juice and cookies, and rally to have others donate on your behalf."

So after starting at UTI, Paul came home one day with bandage in the middle of his elbow.
"What you do to your arm, donate blood or something?"
"Actually yes... I know it's important to you but that you can't... so I did it."

He's not donating because it's good thing to do, he's not donating because it could save lives... Paul's donating blood because he knows that I feel it's important to do so, but personally can't.

My husband rocks for opening a vein for me, literally!
Now that's love!

Sunday Challange - Winner!

Congratulations Elizabeth K. on winning the Homer Simpson Pizza Cutter!
It is in fact, an egg separator
(which my mother-in-law who purchased it for me only knew because there was a sign).
Hey mum, you should totally makes these! (taller with the slit lower, and more of a lip to keep the whole egg from falling out - which has yet to happen, but it threatens to do so every time).

A perfect gift, considering I didn't have one and have to separate an egg weekly to glaze our sandwich bagels.

What unique kitchen items do you have?

Sunday Challange - Free Giveaway, with Hits.

A no one has come anywhere near close to guessing the item, I'm giving you all another week - and hits!

The item belongs in the kitchen, more for the baker than the cook.
The one you usually see (or that I usually see) in the kitchen is made of a brownish yellow plastic.

So, what is this item?

Remember, who ever is closest wins a Home Simpson Pizza cutter.

Past guesses included....

An easy to access/honor system piggy bank
and my personal favorite, a Cylon impersonating a flower pot.

Hubby Friday XIII

be sure to check to check out KathyLin's Blog for more information on My Husband Rock's Fridays.

After a fairly lengthy hiatus, I’m back to posting about how my husband rocks. It’s not that Paul hasn’t rocked during this time, but that I haven’t been posting on my blog regularly enough to keep with the Friday posts.

My husband rocks for wanting to take on more house chores!

For the history of our living together I have always done the majority of our laundry while Paul had done a larger chunk of the dishes. Well here in Arizona we don’t have the chores down to a groove yet.

I didn’t get to the laundry for a couple of weeks, not a big deal for me given the size of my wardrobe but an issue for Paul with his school attire. He didn’t complain or comment at all, his just did his own laundry. Then, when I started doing the laundry again he made it very clear that I didn’t need to wash his cloths – he’s always said that, but this time there was more energy behind it.

Paul doesn’t pay more attention to the dishes anymore; I unload he loads and we both handwash…. While he’s working on book case, cars, and other random projects I’m doing the rest of the house work when he doesn’t need an assisting hand, and he feels that is really uneven. Doing his own laundry and some of the house laundry (he won’t touch my cloths ‘cause he’s worried he’d destroy something) made him feel like things were more even again. That he even pays attention to such things makes my heart melt.

My husband rocks for taking note of what I do, and trying to keep the world off my shoulders.

Sunday Challange - Free Giveaway

What is this item?

Winner, or closest to wins a dorky but amusing Talking Homer Simpson Pizza Cutter.
"Mmm... pizza!"

Tune in Next Sunday for the results!

Book Review: The Little House Collection

The Little House Collection by Laura Ingalls Wilder


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
By the grace of God, high ethics, and hard work you'll get by but not without sorrow.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Books aren't just about the pioneer times, or family, or a girl... but how to live in the pioneer times; how to cook, how to clean, how to play, how to harvest, how to pray, how to preserver. More than just a connection to history, these books offer in-site and instruction on how to live it.

The further along in the series the less of a manual the books become, but it's clear throughout that Laura Ingalls Wilder wasn't just reminiscing over the old days, but trying to preserve them.

As the books are autobiographical the endings aren't perfect, the drama frequently isn't as extreme as it could be, and the characters don't always do or learn what you want them to. And because of that it's fantastic coming of age tale.

View all my reviews >>

The meaning of Christmas presents... in July

Over the years, I've started to make more and more Christmas presents myself. Some of that comes from a need to be thrifty, but there's more to it than that.

There's something about making a gift for someone that's deeply moving on spiritual level. From deciding what to make, to putting your time, effort, sweat and tears into the item; ultimately you don't just give the person something that will make them happy, you give them a piece of yourself.

Even when you don't end up making something for someone on your list, the time you spend thinking about what you might make usually results in a more meaningful gift. For example, after stressing about what to make for my mother-in-law, it finally occurred to me that she has a lot of stuff. She has so much stuff that gifts for the sake of gifts are a nuisance, she has no place to put them. So, unless the crafting muse strikes me with the perfect hand made gift (and on occasion it has) I try to only get her things that get used up, such sauces, teas, and bath salts). Had I not being thinking of what to make for her, only what to buy her, I'm not sure I would have come to the same conclusion.

I have also found, that deciding to give Christmas gifts to only those who I want to seriously make something for (doesn't mean something actually gets made) has helped me keep gift giving in control (though I do send Christmas cards and bake cookies for the masses).

I don't know what the history of Christmas in July is, but I know what Crafter's us it for. Now is the time to put together your list of those few who you're willing to make something for, now is the time to look through your craft books, fondle your stash, and hit the Internet for free patterns, now is the time to buy your supplies, and get crafting. Better yet, now is the time to learn a craft style that you have been meaning to learn, and make something for someone (thanks to Michele's Care Package there are several sewing and quilting projects on my list).

Your lists aren't set in stone, they are a brain storm. What is currently placed next to my parents names will probably not be their gift, but it's a good fall back and the process has me thinking. In the mean time I'll work on the rest of the list.

So what are you placing on your list (that you can talk about on a blog)?

For my grandmother I'm making wrist warmers (yes, I made wrist warmers with the intention of giving them to her last year, and then ended up using and keeping them - the central heat and water heater broke at the same time, I needed a second pair!)

For my goddaughter, who doesn't remember me I'm trying a crafting experiment. For her birthday she'll receive a small cross stitch piece, and for Christmas she'll receive a "How to Cross Stitch" kit appropriate for her age (seven). I'm hoping this will spark some interest in her as to who I am.

I can't tell you exactly what I'm making for my sister in-law Helena, but I can tell you it came to me in a dream after I went to bed thinking "I should put together my Christmas craft list tomorrow". It's funky, it's useful... I think/hope she'll like it. (This seems to happen every year with her, I always feel that the item is either absolutely perfect... or she'll hate it - so far they have all been well received.)

I would tell you what I'm making for my sister... but though she has a history of saying she'll read the blog and then not getting to it, I know better than to tempt fate.

What is St. Nicolas inspiring you to make?

Happy pre holiday planning
-Katie

Care Package

Michele over at the Sugar Bowl House is a dear friend mine.
Well after a while people get tired of hearing their friends commenting about things they need to learn something or other... quilting for example.

Thus, due to my years of saying "I need to learn how to quilt" I am to blame for Michele's Spy Quilt 101 tutorial.

I commented that her tutorial was interesting, and that when I could afford to buy some fabric I would come back to the posts and follow along. Michele said "that's why there, so you can always go back. Find yourself some fabric you really like, something with teapots and cats maybe?"

I should have know there was a care package in the mail!

Land of Tea Quilt instructions and fabric, quilt it kit project ideas box, pumpkin home spa supplies, and a sheperds clock. - I'm in heaven!

Thank you Michele!!!!

Catcerto

you simply must watch this video!
Even you Ma with your slow computer, make dad show it to you!

Click Here To View Video

4th Wedding Anniversery - The Grand Canyon

(Found the Camera)

We didn't hike the Grand Canyon this year only walked around parts of the rim (and the small off trail hike it took to get this shot... which was enough to tell us that not hiking the canyon was a good call - now that we are more settled its time to get back into shape).

(I can't name the rock formations, or which ares of the rim we were on - ask Paul if you really want to know)

Mallonee luck to the rescue - we didn't have to pay to get into the park because we got there after midnight. We slept in the car a few hours, and then hit the main campsite station as soon as they opened. Of course they have no cancellations, but it was worth a shot right? Well as Paul got back into the car the ranger came running at us, she had a woman who wasn't going to stay and was hoping for a refund (which they don't do), so we gave her our money and headed to her campsite!

Both of us had only seen the canyon before in August, and were surprised by how green everything looked. Having started to get used to Phoenix, it didn't feel like we were in Arizona, but Northern California.

Temperatures in the 70's were a lovely change from our 100+ degree Phoenix norm, and the first evening we found ourselves to be quite chilly, though we quickly adjusted.

So far all of the rain storms Paul and I have witnessed in Arizona have been quite mellow, but the one that hit us at the canyon was definitely a run for cover storm. It wasn't a monsoon, but the raindrops were large and kind of hurt when they hit you. Though it was fun to watch everyone head for the general store, I which we had been at our tent when it hit (am I the only person who LOVES being in a tent during a rain storm?).

We camped one day of our honeymoon, for our first and second anniversaries, and now for our fourth (something was definitely missing last year) - I like our June camping trip tradition.

The Grand Canyon in June is significantly warmer than the back side of Mt. Rainer - don't get me wrong I enjoyed camping off site on Rainer, but it was nice not to have to pack all the winter gear!

I still can't believe it's been four years!!!

Camera

Oh where... is my camera? Oh where... is my camera? Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where... is my camera?

You know, the one with the baking, and gardening, and camping/anniversary, and cat photos.... yeah that one. Haven't seen it eh? Well thanks for looking.

I hate posting without photos... which is funny, 'cause I hate taking photos.

100th Post: back to the foundation

For a blog called "While the Tea is Steeping", I sure don't post a lot about tea do I?
Which is fine, since the point of the blog is what I do with my life while fueled on tea, not the tea itself. Still, with 100 posts behind me you would think that I would have talked about tea a little more. So instead of the typical 100 random things about me for my 100th post, here are some thinks about my tea addiction.

My tea containment devices also known as tea pots.

Okay so the big plain white one is actually a coffee pot, but my father used it for tea before me and so I am using it now!
The Royal Albert Country Rose set was a bridal shower gift from my mother-in-law (the sliver tea leaf spoon was a gift from my sister).
The one cup Brown Betty I stole from my mother when I moved out (if you actually want it back let me know).
The cast iron "green tea" tea pot was the last purchase we made on our honeymoon in San Fransisco.
The stacking tea pot and cup was a parting gift from my co-workers in Seattle, and is currently the tea pot I use the most.

---

You brew beer or...

I'm supposed to minimize my caffeine intake to control my acid reflux... so I have been trying to get into red tea. The Green Ballonoff tea tin is Adagio Rooibos Berry, it makes a good ice tea while the Republic Red tea is good hot or cold.
My favorite black tea is Murchies Irish Breakfast followed by their Empress Afternoon, but
Red Rose is my classic fall back (and yes I keep the figurines). Out of the huge amount of Murchies Tea Victoria bought me for my birthday I have two boxes of some of their green tea left.
There are some Lemon and Chamomile Teas purchased on the way back from women's weekend with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
In the bag with the bow is some tea my mother-in-laws purchased for me in France (just a bit left).
The Republic Ginger Peach is Paul's favorite tea, so what a great move it was by my co-workers to give me Republic Green Ginger Peach to go with my parting teacup set.
On a lark I tried the Traditional Medicinals Female Toner to aid in Endometriosis flares, it works but I find the strait Traditional Medicinals Raspberry Leaf tea to be more effective.
I'm not even going to get started with the ziplock bag of random teabags in the back (Stash Tea , Holidays, no more need to be said though there's more in there than that).

---

What tea drinking device is missing from this picture?

A "green tea" teacup, but they are in the picture of the teapots because I think of them as an extension of the pot its self.
The large hand thrown clay mug was an early creation of my mother's, it's my comfort mug (or I'm working on a large project and don't want to stop in five minute to refill my cup mug).
The travel mug was also a gift from my mother.
I found the Library mug at the thrift store, my best friend Hillary was nice enough to buy it for me as I was completely broke at the time. By the way, those books in the handle spin!
The purple cup with infuser was Christmas gift from my husband. The cup came with a matching lid, but like my husbands red cup the lid has long since shattered :-(
I love ivy, just love it! So I had to buy this cup back when I was first starting my china teacup collection via ebay. It was over this cup that I got into my first heated bidding war.

---

...Whistle...

Paul bought me the blue tea kettle several Christmases ago.
The Ballonoff kettle was left on the burner so we can't use it to boil water, but Jackie seems to like it.
The Tea cozy was a Christmas gift from my parents, and it actually fits my two monster size teapots!

---

Bit wait... it's like 106 degrees in Phoenix....

If I have enough time before leaving for work I'll make a hot cup of tea to take with me to my over air conditioned office, but other than that hot tea is currently left as a serious pick-me-up or "ack, must finish project today!" drive. Other wise we're drinking Lipton Ice Tea (non sweetened thank you very much) daily with the occasional Arizona Ice Tea as a treat.

Favorite Black Tea?
Murchies Irish Breakfast
How do you take it?
With a good amount of milk
(or considerably less Mocha Mix since I'm not supposed to do the dairy thing)
Favorite Herbal Tea?
Peppermint Tea, strong stuff but I'm known to suck on the peppermint teabags when I'm finished with the tea so...
Favorite Red Tea?
Adagio Rooibos - it tastes so much like Twinings Orange Peko that with a little milk I can pretend it's caffinated.
Favorite Green Tea?
Revolution Green Tea
Favorite post yoga/meditation tea?
Yogi Ginger tea, and I can meditate over the sayings on the tea bag stub.
Most likely to make tea?
Red Rose Tea
(does anyone want the pony figurine? I have three and am willing to trade)
Currently drinking?
an "Arizona Von"
(Pineapple/Orange/Banana juice, ice tea, tonic, and gin - there's tea in it)

So there, as you can see the title of my blog is not a fake - my life really is about what I'm doing while waiting for my pot of tea to steep, that's a given so the blog is everything else.

Cheers!

Make your sandwhich and eat it too

I was never a big one for sandwiches; given the choice between a sandwich and left overs I would go for the left overs every time. Then I worked at Solly's (front staff: barista, till, and sandwich maker - not a baker), and found that actually I do like sandwiches, I'm just very picky; I want my sandwich on a bagel, with tomatoes and bean sprouts at least.

I have been doing a lot of baking since we moved to Arizona.
In addition to my "daily cookies" (I'll post the recipie when it's been perfected) and famous chocolate banana muffins, I tried my hand at making some bread.

Paul and I are used to bread outlets, and there are some here in Phoenix, just no where near our house. Neither of us can really fathom the price of bread from the grocery store, so I tried my hand at making some white bread (we were out of whole-wheat at the time of the move, and we haven't replaced it yet). It was a little over cooked, but good. Not bad at all for my first attempt at a yeast bread.

Then last week I found myself in Einstein Bros. Bagels while waiting for a ride, so I picked up a dozen of their "everything" bagels (good, but Solly's Mish-Mash has more on it, and thus as an everything bagel is better). That took care of last week's lunches and snacks, now what to do this week? We can't really afford to buy bagels every week, particularly as Einstein Bros. doesn' t offer a "buy a dozen for the price of a half dozen" day like Solly's (my loyalties are in my home town, what can I say?). Further more, Einstein Bros. ins't exactly close to my house, I just happend to be in the area that day.

... Well, theoreticaly if I have the touch to make loavs of bread I should be able to make bagles right?

Apparently so.

Katharyn's home made mish-mash bagles
(garlic, onion, poppy seed, sesame seed, and rock salt)
Not too chewy, or too hard
Some are a little small, but that's just a mater of practice...
The toppings didn't stay on as well as I would have liked, but I suspect if I keep making them every week I'll figure out the trick to that.
Once we replace the whole wheat flour, I'll make some whole-wheat mish-mash (which I always ment to have spechal orderd through Solly's but never got around to it).

I'm already in the kitchen most of Sunday baking cookies, cutting up carrot sticks, making muffins, etc... I might as well add bagels to the list and actually enjoy my sandwhich rather than forcing myself to eat it for the sustinance. Now I just need to start growing bean sprouts (I know it's easy, I just need to do it).

I would like to say thank you to Kendra at Ten Minutes to Digest; reading her blog has gotten me to stop stressing about trying new things in the kitchen - I have always tried new recipies, but it used to be stressful, and now it's fun (most of the time anyway).

If you are in Vancouver, seriously, go to Solly's! That was on my list of things to do before we left the NorthWest (along with swimming at Jericho), and unfortunately I just couldn' t find the time to get into Vancouver proper. I actually dream about Solly's once or twice a year (seriously, and yes I know I'm werid); I dream that we are visiting in Vancouver, and go to have lunch, only to find that they are really under staffed so I end up pitching in behind the counter, noshing the whole time. - Think I might miss the food a little? Maybe I should try my baking hand at a few more things I used to get there...

Do you have a food item that you always used to buy, but now you make?

-Katie

Sock and Muffin Hiatus?

Have you ever made muffins, and actually come out with the number of muffins estimated by the recipe?

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins from
Land O Lakes Treasury of Country Heritage Meals & Menus

From their count of 1 1/2 dozen, I'm missing six muffins. I have NEVER managed to get as many muffins out of a recipe as approximated by the recipe's authors, NEVER! Where do they go? Do stocks and muffins have a secret hiatus spot? Do the cats steel them and place them behind the couch?

Do you manage to get the estimated number of muffins from a recipe? How? If I was over filling I would understand, but I'm really not!

YAY!

I got the job!!! No more temping for me!

That said Cure Staffing is a wonderful company and I will turn to them happily if my situation should change!

yes!